As for "Islamic" laws, I don't even want to get into that, regardless of what fatwa anyone issues. Islam also tolerated (but discouraged) slavery, because it was integral to the society's economic fabric in those days. It doesn't mean that we have to legalize slavery today.
Mate , once upon a time , even the loud speakers and the western education were prohibited for Muslims , all being contrary to the teachings of Islam and thus anti-Islamic , so lets not worry about that . Its about time , people start to think freely and critically instead of outsourcing it all to the Mullahs . I will not get into the details how the religion has been manipulated/exploited to suit the agendas of a few and to safeguard their interests throughout the history .
Deen-e-Mullah , Fasad Fi Sabil-illah .
This in response to correct demand of the Islamic Council???
So basically , trying to amend a law which prohibits the marriage of underage girls and hence controls to some extent , the exploitation of the opposite gender mostly in the name of the religion and culture , disregarding the issues of maturity and the literacy and health consequences of young age pregnancy and both physiological effects on such girls is a correct demand of the otherwise silent on FAR FAR more important matters CII ? Are you sure about that ? Where's the historical and societal contextualization here ?
But dishonour is a word usually associated with illicit relations for which the punishment in Islam is clear. Only a person outside Islam would dispute those punishments and they are identical for both genders.....when divine law does not differentiate b/w the sexes on many things, why should we???
But this " dis honor " is a wonderful versatile word used across this great country to kill/torture/persecute girls and women under the pretext that have somehow brought shame on the family . If we really need to tell you , how many girls and women have been declared " kari " or to be killed , those who have been tortured to hell , those who have married to the Holy Book , those who have thrown acid on their face , those who have been forcibly married to someone by the Jirga/Panchayat e.t.c. using the same logic you are stating here , then we are having a futile discussion . Were those girls and women tried under any law , even the religious one ? Or were they punished on a mere " accusation " by their family/tribe ? Under what law of the land were they punished ? Only a person who's not in his right mind will believe or want others to believe that in an overwhelmingly astronomical number of cases , it was always girls and women's fault and mistake which led to their death mostly , resulted in their injury/trauma or made their life hell . Obviously , you have gone far overboard in rationalizing the reality by religious interpretations . Somehow , even your mind signed off when you saw the word " Islam " .
And then, why not leave the age at the discretion of the parents? And shouldn't the girl herself have a say in her marriage? Islam allows both man and woman to marry according to their will.
The question arises then , why not marry the girls as soon they are born ? Why even wait for puberty as per these Mullahs ? While you are at it , answer me , what 9/12/14 year old immature boy/girl is going to refuse his/her parents choice ? What choice does he/she have ? What is his/her opinion worth even in that little age ? Obviously , he/she would have no say in already done deal . We have previously seen the results of that in Pakistan , a 7 year old girl being wed to a 12 year boy recently and rich people purchasing " poor " girls from village , whom their parents sell because they aren't able to feed them or give them education or . I am starting to think that the sole purpose of coming in this world is to marry and breed children like rabbits . Educations , health and everything else can take a hike ! After all , there's a reason why there is a legal age for marrying , which whilst not necessarily being accurate , provides a certain safeguard by not allowing parents/guardians/society to easily exploit the daughters of Eve .
So you want to amend Islamic laws to suit your needs? Or because certain elements of the society misuse those rules? Why weren't the same rules being violated under the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or the Calips (RA)??? Would anyone dare violate any rule under a true Islamic system (Shariat)???
What Islamic law first of all ? Did the religion specify a certain age for marriage ? Did it ask you to not educate or wait for the girl to mature , but just marry her and be free from all cares ? Are you too stuck in your utopia - the ideal world ? Maybe , you will make better arguments when you speak whilst having the ground realities in mind . Laws are made and enforced keeping the requirements of the era and society and specially the ground realities in mind , the religion says the same , otherwise why not allow slavery today too , after all the Prophet tolerated it for quite sometime ? .
I told you what the back of the sahih bukhari I read had said...
